Revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by reportable segment and source of revenue (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 49,426	$ 44,623
Other revenues	21,384	19,976
Total revenues	70,810	64,599
Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,981	5,413
Building Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,419	4,399
Consumer Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,093	4,163
Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,706	7,442
Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,562	4,004
Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,527	2,312
Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,897	4,359
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	8,527	7,819
Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,714	4,712
Manufacturing Businesses [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	17,430	14,957
Other revenues	955	923
Total revenues	18,385	15,880
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,932	5,363
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Building Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,419	4,399
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Consumer Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,093	4,163
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	722	703
Manufacturing Businesses [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	264	329
McLane [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	12,482	11,597
Other revenues	32	25
Total revenues	12,514	11,622
McLane [Member] | Grocery and Convenience Store Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,706	7,442
McLane [Member] | Food and Beverage Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,562	4,004
McLane [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	214	151
Service and Retailing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	7,757	6,952
Other revenues	1,334	991
Total revenues	9,091	7,943
Service and Retailing [Member] | Industrial and Commercial Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	49	50
Service and Retailing [Member] | Auto Sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,527	2,312
Service and Retailing [Member] | Other Retail and Wholesale Distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,175	3,656
Service and Retailing [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,006	934
BNSF [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,931	5,365
Other revenues	13	13
Total revenues	5,944	5,378
BNSF [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,931	5,365
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,826	5,752
Other revenues	152	172
Total revenues	5,978	5,924
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,112	1,040
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Electricity and Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,714	4,712
Insurance, Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenues	18,898	17,852
Total revenues	$ 18,898	$ 17,852